WASHINGTON, DC (May 10, 2022) The National Environmental Banking Association (NEBA), based in Washington DC, made news again last week by announcing its new 11 member Board of Directors to be headed by former Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) the Honorable John Paul Woodley Jr. This, as directors for the Association from across the country convened at the National Mitigation and Ecosystem Banking Conference, providing educational sessions, outreach and continued support for those who gathered for the 22nd annual event, held this year in Boise, Idaho.
“I am honored and humbled by the responsibility of chairing the Board of NEBA for the coming years, said Woodley. “ We have a diverse and talented Board and an engaged and growing membership, thanks to the inspired leadership of Donna Collier. She has given us a firm foundation, and will continue to contribute her vision as we build upon it,” he said.
Retiring Chair Donna Collier was recognized by Woodley and the Board for her tireless work and dedication to the industry and presented with a unique and beautiful geode stone.
"It has been the honor of a lifetime to be associated with this courageous group of trailblazers who have created the single most successful environmental restoration and protection program in history,” Collier said at the Annual meeting. “Mr. Woodley's role in introducing the regulatory framework for this industry cannot be overestimated. His knowledge and experience are unequaled. Strong, principled guidance is necessary for the continued growth of this vital work. I could not be more pleased that he has accepted the leadership of this exciting industry," she said.
NEBA’s members from across the U.S. unanimously approved the new Board and slate of officers, received updates on challenges and opportunities in the industry, and attended training sessions. The conference concluded with a roundtable discussion from senior policy officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others. The Association intends to continue these productive meetings and discussions at NEBA’s upcoming DC Fly-in this September. >Learn MoreA newly released Government Accountability Office (GAO) report is shining a spotlight on a concern many in the mitigation banking industry have raised for years: inconsistent implementation of the federal compensatory mitigation program across U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts. Under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, the Corps requires compensatory mitigation when permitted
Read MoreFor too long, environmental policy debates have been framed around a false and unproductive premise: that economic growth and environmental protection are inherently at odds. This mindset is not only outdated—it is actively harmful to both outcomes. Mitigation banking offers a clear path forward. By design, it aligns economic incentives with ecological restoration, proving that well-functioning
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